Techrules' 1,030-hp GT96 production version to debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

Chinese startup Techrules introduced the AT96 and GT96 TREV supercar concepts back in March at the Geneva show when it announced plans to put the latter in production within the next couple of years. In order to boost development and have the vehicle ready sooner, the company has hired none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Maurizio Giugiaro to work on the car. In addition, Techrules has also recruited production specialist L.M. Gianetti to help build the high-performance vehicle which initially will be produced in a small batch of 25 units each year.

Revealed:

While the production-ready GT96 will be shown at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, it won’t actually go on sale until 2018 or 2019. The high-performance vehicle is going to use the firm’s newly developed Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) technology consisting of a micro-turbine which can generate electricity to recharge the car’s battery powering the six electric motors driving the wheels. According to the startup, the hardware will require fewer batteries than existing range-extending vehicles, thus shaving off weight and saving space. The turbine generator will be able to fully charge the battery pack in as little as 40 minutes.

The company goes on to specify the micro-turbine will spin at a whopping 96,000 rpm and is going to produce 36 kilowatts, with 30 kW powering the generator and the 20-kWh lithium-manganese-oxide battery, while the other 6 kW will be reserved for the auxiliary equipment. Techrules has been testing the TREV system's turbine with natural gas, biogas, diesel, gasoline and aviation kerosene, with 80 liters of the latter providing a theoretical maximum range of more than 2,000 km (1,242 miles) in the city.

Beijing-based Techrules has been running a GT96 development prototype in U.K. at the Silverstone track and according to initial projections it will be able to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from a standstill in only two and a half seconds and max out at an electronically-limited 217 mph (350 kph). The Chinese startup mentions total output will stand at a mind-blowing 1,030 horsepower (768 kilowatts) and 6,372 pound-feet (8,640 Newton-meters) of torque in a supercar with a dry weight of only 1,380 kilograms (3,042 pounds).

Following the introduction of the GT96, Techrules will kick off production of more affordable city cars that will be made in higher volumes.

Check out the press release area to read the technical specifications of the concept.